Green light for Big Noise Venezuela trip

Stirling schoolchildren have been given the all clear for the trip of a lifetime.

The Big Noise pupils are set for South America (Photo: Stirling Observer)

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Up to 60 members of the Raploch Big Noise orchestra are set to embark on a 10-day adventure to Venezuela in January.

However fears were raised over their plans to head to Caracas due to the high levels of crime and political unrest in the country.

A delegation headed out to South America last week to carry out a full risk assessment for the trip and thankfully Big Noise has now been given the green light, although the situation will continue to be monitored in the run-up to the trip.

Stirling Council’s assistant head of education Kevin Kelman, who carried out the assessment along with four representatives from Big Noise, said every precaution was being taken.

He said: “A full year of planning has gone into preparing for the children’s visit to Venezuela, including regular meetings of a committee whose sole purpose is to examine risks. This committee includes a Sistema Scotland board member who is a former British Ambassador to Venezuela.

“Last week, as part of our longstanding plans, an advance party was sent to Venezuela to thoroughly check all the places the children will visit in January. The trip was very successful and no problems were encountered.

“Our plans have been rigorously developed over an extended period in consultation with experts in the UK and Venezuela, including the British Council, and Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Risks have been and will continue to be thoroughly assessed.

“We will continue to monitor the situation. We are confident that all steps have been taken to make January’s trip safe and enjoyable.”

Earlier this month, councillors agreed to foot the £2183 bill for sending Mr Kelman on the trip, and he will now prepare a report for the council’s education committee.

Big Noise’s Big Trip plans started after their open-air performance in Stirling last year, where they were joined by the Simon Bolivar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela, a product of the country’s El Sistema movement on which Big Noise is modelled.

At that concert El Sistema founder Jose Antonio Abreu issued an invitation for the Stirling group to go and play in Caracas.

They have launched a £40,000 fundraising drive to help pay for the trip-of-a-lifetime.